The implementation of physical resource sharing among the colleges will go live in two phases. The first phase will include a soft launch referred to here as the “Quiet Launch”, and a more marketed launch called the “Noisy Launch”.

Quiet Launch: July 17th, 2024

To “quiet launch” resource sharing in the Ontario college libraries, the RSWG is recommending that each library complete everything in the Page 1+ Resource Sharing Configuration documentation, including Section 4: Instructions – Go Live by end of day, July 16^th. However, colleges should not yet announce or broadcast resource sharing opportunities and services. Leave it up to users to discover the “Get It” functionality and resource sharing request forms on their own for now.

Use the time between the 17th and mid August to test with live requests and staff sample staff requests. Libraries are encouraged to arrange testing with your testing partners and other Page 1+ Resource Sharing Partners in Alma and to use this time to develop your own local documentation and staff training.

The RSWG will provide instructions for editing the Resource Sharing Request Confirmation Letter so that libraries can let users know that this service is in beta for now. Libraries can use real requests during this soft launch phase to make sure resource sharing is working smoothly and all the kinks are worked out of local workflows.

Noisy Launch: August 12th, 2024

Colleges that are ready, can begin promotion and marketing the week of August 12th. The RSWG will prepare and share sample text the college libraries can use to publicize resource sharing functionality to students, faculty, college staff, and stakeholders at that time. See Project Documentation | Resource Sharing Marketing and Promotional Material

After successful beta testing in July and August, we hope that all the college libraries will be ready to formally announce resource sharing functionality in Alma and Primo VE by September.

When will we set up resource sharing with external partners?

Once we can confirm that resource sharing is working smoothly among our local partners in the Ontario college libraries, we will begin to set up external partnerships with the OMNI universities and other external partners. We hope the colleges will be ready to start this phase in September. It is better for our partners and our local institutions to set up partnerships as a group. The Resource Sharing Working Group will be sharing instructions for adding external resource sharing partners in Alma at that time. We request that you wait to set up external partners until further guidance from the RSWG.